As the flames of the golem enveloped the woman, she turned her attention back to Nemu, Uryū, and Ririn, her gaze piercing and intense.
Woman: "So, what do you think? This is my Doll, Goethe." - She declared, her voice ringing out with a mixture of pride and defiance.
Her question hung in the air, causing a momentary pause among the trio. Nemu's expression remained impassive, but a flicker of apprehension danced in her eyes. Uryū's brow furrowed in thought, his mind racing to assess the situation.
Uryū: "Doll...?" - He muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he tried to make sense of the woman's declaration.
The trio was caught off guard when a deep, resonating voice echoed through the area, emanating from the fiery golem summoned by the woman.
Goethe: "Yoshino... have you summoned me?"
Ririn: 'That thing can talk?!' - She thought, visibly astonished.
Yoshino: "Goethe, these people are proving to be quite stubborn."
Goethe: "Stubborn, you say...?!" - The golem's voice thundered as it formed a swirling ball of fire in its hands.
Ririn: "Watch out! Those flames are anything but ordinary!"
As the golem, Goethe, unleashed its fiery attack, a massive ball of flames surged towards Nemu, Uryū, and Ririn, threatening to engulf them in its destructive power. Nemu reacted swiftly, her instincts honed by years of combat experience. With a graceful leap, she propelled herself away from the impending inferno, narrowly avoiding its searing heat.
Meanwhile, Ririn's eyes widened in alarm as she realized the danger they were facing. Without hesitation, she grabbed hold of Uryū's arm, pulling him close as she prepared to evade the impending attack.
Ririn: "Ishida, we need to move! Now!"
Uryū, still without his Quincy powers, felt a surge of adrenaline course through him as he followed Ririn's lead, his instincts kicking in as they leaped away from the oncoming flames. The intense heat licked at their heels as they landed safely, putting some distance between themselves and the searing inferno.
The ground where they had stood moments before now crackled and smoldered, consumed by the ferocious blaze. Ririn glanced back at the towering golem, her eyes narrowing with determination as she assessed their next move.
Ririn: "We can't let up for a second. We need to find a way to counter that thing's attacks!"
Nemu, her gaze unwavering, nodded in agreement, her mind already working to formulate a strategy. Despite the formidable opponent they faced, there was no hint of fear in her demeanor.
As the fiery golem, Goethe, continued its relentless assault, Nemu, Uryū, and Ririn found themselves locked in a desperate struggle for survival. The searing flames licked at their heels, threatening to consume them in a blazing inferno with each devastating attack.
Nemu, her reflexes razor-sharp, deftly dodged and weaved through the torrent of flames, her movements a graceful dance of evasion and precision. Uryū, despite lacking his Quincy powers, remained steadfast at Ririn's side, his resolve unyielding as he focused on finding a way to turn the tide of battle.
Ririn, her mind racing with possibilities, unleashed a barrage of illusions in a desperate attempt to disorient and confuse the fiery behemoth. Yet, Goethe seemed undeterred, its fiery onslaught only intensifying with each passing moment.
Amidst the chaos, Yoshino observed the unfolding battle with keen interest, her gaze lingering on Uryū with a curious intensity. There was something about him that piqued her curiosity, a spark of recognition that flickered deep within her subconscious.
Yoshino: "You there, with the glasses..." - She called out, her voice cutting through the roar of the flames as she addressed Uryū directly.
Uryū, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected attention, turned to face Yoshino, his expression guarded yet curious.
Yoshino's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she studied Uryū with renewed interest.
Yoshino: "Tell me, are you a Quincy?" - Her question hung in the air, laden with intrigue and curiosity.
As Yoshino awaited Uryū's response, a brief lull fell over the battlefield, the fiery onslaught of Goethe momentarily abating. Sensing an opportunity, Nemu seized the moment with lightning speed, her zanpakutō flashing in a blur of motion as she closed the distance between herself and the towering golem.
With a swift and decisive strike, Nemu's blade sliced through the air, cleaving cleanly through the fiery appendage of Goethe. The golem let out a thunderous roar of pain as its arm fell away, dissipating into a cascade of embers and ash.
For a fleeting moment, victory seemed within reach as Nemu's attack found its mark. However, their triumph was short-lived as the severed limb of Goethe became enveloped in a writhing mass of flames, the fiery tendrils intertwining and reforming before their very eyes.
To their astonishment, the arm reattached itself to the golem's smoldering form, the flames knitting the severed limb back into place with eerie precision. Goethe, undeterred by the loss of its appendage, turned its attention back to the trio with renewed fervor, its fiery gaze burning with unbridled fury.
Nemu gritted her teeth in frustration, realizing that defeating the formidable golem would be no easy task. Despite their valiant efforts, it seemed that Goethe possessed a resilience that defied conventional logic, its fiery form proving nigh indestructible against their assaults.
As the flames of battle raged on, Uryū cast a determined glance at Yoshino, his resolve hardening with each passing moment. Though the odds were stacked against them, he knew that they could not afford to falter in the face of adversity.
As Uryū observed the sudden interest in the woman Bount's eyes, he realized the significance of her inquiry. With a steely resolve, he acknowledged her unspoken question.
Uryū: "Yes, I am a Quincy."
His admission hung in the air, a declaration of his heritage and the power he wielded as one of the last of his kind. The woman's gaze lingered on him for a moment, a flicker of intrigue dancing in her eyes before she turned her attention elsewhere.
Yoshino: "Goethe, would you kindly escort our guests away?"
Goethe: "Escort them away? As you wish..."
At Yoshino's command, the fiery golem shifted its focus, its burning gaze fixing on Nemu and Ririn with an intensity that sent shivers down their spines. With a thunderous roar, Goethe unleashed a torrent of flames, driving Nemu and Ririn back as they struggled to evade the searing heat.
As the flames spread, engulfing the surrounding area in a dangerous inferno, Nemu and Ririn momentarily lost sight of Uryū amidst the chaos. Panic surged within them as they frantically searched for their comrade, their senses overwhelmed by the blistering heat and choking smoke.
Just as it seemed they were engulfed by the flames, a sudden calm descended upon the battlefield. The roaring fire dwindled to embers, the intense heat dissipating into the cool night air as if sucked back into the fiery heart of Goethe himself.
In the wake of the inferno's retreat, Nemu and Ririn scanned the area, their eyes widening in disbelief as they realized that not only had the flames vanished, but Yoshino, Uryū, and the enigmatic Doll, Goethe, were nowhere to be found.
Nemu clenched her fists in frustration, tightening her grip on the zanpakutō, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the bewildering turn of events. It was clear that their encounter with the Bounts was far from over, and the mysteries surrounding their elusive adversaries only deepened with each passing moment.
Ririn's eyes darted around the deserted battlefield, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and frustration. She turned to Nemu, desperation etched in her features.
Ririn: "What... what happened to Ishida??"
Nemu's stoic facade faltered for a moment, a flicker of concern crossing her features before she regained her composure.
Nemu: "He's... gone."
Her words hung heavily in the air, laden with an unspoken weight that seemed to press down on them both. Ririn's heart sank as she processed Nemu's solemn declaration, a surge of despair washing over her.
Ririn: "Gone? But... but where could he have gone?"
Nemu's gaze hardened with determination as she considered the situation, her mind racing with possibilities.
Nemu: "It's possible... he went with the Bount."
Ririn's eyes widened in shock at the revelation, her mind struggling to comprehend the implications of Nemu's words.
Ririn: "W-why would he do that?"
Nemu's expression remained impassive as she offered a plausible explanation.
Nemu: "The Bount seemed to take a particular interest in Ishida-san when she asked if he was a Quincy. Perhaps he saw it as an opportunity to defuse the situation."
Ririn's thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of the situation, her mind swirling with unanswered questions. Despite her best efforts, the truth remained elusive, shrouded in mystery and uncertainty.
Before either of them could dwell further on Uryū's disappearance, a sudden sensation jolted through Nemu's body, causing her to tense in surprise. Nemu's attention was drawn to her zanpakutō, which began to pulsate with an unusual intensity. Intrigued, she gazed down at the blade, her senses tingling with an inexplicable sensation.
With a furrowed brow, Nemu reached out to touch the pulsating blade, her fingertips tracing the intricate patterns etched into its surface. As her hand made contact with the cool metal, a surge of energy coursed through her, sending a shiver down her spine.
Nemu's eyes widened in astonishment as she beheld the shimmering surface of her zanpakutō, its once dormant spirit now seemingly stirring within its confines. With a sense of trepidation, she gazed upon the blade, a myriad of thoughts swirling in her mind.
**
Meanwhile, high above the city, Yato, Rukia, Ichigo, and Kon soared through the sky. As they journeyed through the night, the moonlight casting a soft glow upon their path, Yato's thoughts drifted to the task at hand. His mind was still reeling from the encounter with Baishin, the memory of their fierce battle lingering like a phantom echo in his consciousness.
Yato's keen eyes scanned the horizon, his senses alert for any sign of trouble. As they flew, a nagging thought gnawed at the back of his mind, a sense of unease lingering within him.
Yato: "Kon, can you sense any Reiatsu from the Bounts down below?" - He called out, his voice carrying over the rush of wind.
Kon: "Hmm, let me see..." - Kon concentrated, his brows furrowing in concentration as he reached out with his spiritual senses. - "I sense two Reiatsus... but one of them seems to be stationary, while the other one... it disappeared."
Yato's brow furrowed in concern at Kon's revelation, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
Yato: "Disappeared...?"
Kon nodded solemnly, his expression mirroring Yato's apprehension.
Kon: "Yeah, it's like it vanished into thin air."
Yato exchanged a meaningful glance with Rukia and Ichigo, silently conveying the urgency of the situation.
Rukia: "We need to find out what they're planning. Let's split up and search the area."
Ichigo was about to agree with Rukia's suggestion when Yato raised a hand to halt their discussion.
Yato: "Wait, splitting up might not be the best idea right now."
His words gave Ichigo pause, prompting him to turn his attention to Yato, curiosity shining in his eyes.
Yato: "Let's think about this for a moment. We have no clue how many Bounts are out there or how strong they are. It'd be a waste of time to split up and blindly search for a single Bount, risking other surprises along the way."
Kon: "He's got a point, Nee-san... Me and the other mod-souls can only detect the Bounts when they use their powers. It's too risky to spread out."
Ichigo: "And I can feel Chad, Tatsuki, and Inoue's presence, so it's likely them taking on the Bount."
Rukia and Ichigo exchanged a glance, considering Yato's words carefully. Kon nodded in agreement, understanding the logic behind Yato's caution.
Rukia: "So, what do you suggest?"
Yato paused, contemplating their options before speaking again.
Yato: "I suggest we head to that Bount that Kon can still sense. The rest of the group is probably facing the Bount. Let's just outnumber this Bount."
Ichigo: "I can sense Chad, Inoue, and Tatsuki... they must be the ones facing the Bount... but..." - He trailed off, his brow furrowed in concern, his eyes reflecting his inner turmoil.
Yato: "It's Tatsuki, isn't it?" - Yato's voice was low, his eyes narrowing with worry as he finished Ichigo's thought, his own unease palpable.
Rukia: "Arisawa? What happened to her?" - Rukia's voice trembled with apprehension, her eyes darting between Ichigo and Yato, searching for answers in their troubled expressions.
Yato: "Tatsuki's Reiatsu keeps increasing... but it feels... off..." - His voice was tinged with a mix of concern and confusion, his gaze fixed on the horizon as if trying to pierce through the darkness to understand what was happening.
Yato's mind raced as he pondered the unsettling increase in Tatsuki's Reiatsu. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, a nagging sense of foreboding gnawing at his insides.
Yato: 'I've never stopped to think... what object Tatsuki uses to channel her Fullbring...? I've never seen her use any object to channel her powers. Chad uses his own skin, Inoue has her hairpins... but Tatsuki...'
His thoughts trailed off as he racked his brain, trying to recall any instance where Tatsuki might have used an object to channel her powers. Yet, try as he might, he came up empty-handed.
Yato: 'At first, I thought she used her own eyes as a catalyst since they changed shape, but she doesn't seem like the kind of person who's so strongly attached to her own eyes like that...I've never seen her use anything... Could it be...?'
**
The tension in the warehouse escalated with every passing moment as Tatsuki's anger intensified to a boiling point. Her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms as her muscles coiled with pent-up fury. The veins in her neck bulged with the strain of her suppressed rage, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she struggled to contain the overwhelming emotions coursing through her veins.
Orihime, Chad, and the mod-souls watched with growing concern as Tatsuki's demeanor shifted, her usually composed expression twisted into a mask of unbridled rage. The air crackled with the raw intensity of her emotions, sending shivers down their spines as they witnessed the ferocity burning within her.
Orihime: "Tatsuki-chan..."
Her voice was laced with worry, her brow furrowing in concern as she reached out to her, but Tatsuki brushed off her gesture with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Tatsuki: "Stay back, Orihime! This bastard is mine!"
Her voice was a low growl, barely recognizable beneath the layers of anger that coated her words like a venomous hiss. Her eyes blazed with an intensity that sent a chill down the Bount's spine, his smirk faltering for the briefest of moments as he took a cautious step backward.
The Bount, sensing the shift in Tatsuki's demeanor, raised an eyebrow in curiosity, his gaze flickering with a mixture of amusement and apprehension.
Man: "My, my, it seems I've struck a nerve..."
His voice dripped with sarcasm, his lips curling into a mocking grin as he observed Tatsuki's volatile state.
Fried: "I reckon we should just kill her now, Ryō..." - The voice echoed from the snake.
Ryō: "Agreed... But I must admit, it would be rather intriguing to see how this plays out... Imagine how ironic it would be if the girl started attacking her own friends..." - He grinned.
Suddenly, the snake's tail extended down the man's arm, resembling a large whip, which the Bount wielded gracefully around him as it struck the walls and floor, leaving marks from the blows.
Meanwhile, Kurōdo and Noba exchanged worried glances, their concern evident in the way they hovered close to Orihime, ready to intervene at a moment's notice. The mod-souls had witnessed Tatsuki's incredible strength firsthand, but they had never seen her consumed by such overwhelming rage.
Chad: "This isn't good..."
As Tatsuki launched herself at the Bount once more, her movements fueled by pure fury, the others watched with growing concern. Orihime bit her lip, her heart aching with worry as she witnessed her friend's uncontrollable rage. Chad's brow furrowed with apprehension, his eyes locked on Tatsuki's increasingly erratic behavior. Even Kurōdo and Noba exchanged uneasy glances, their usual banter silenced by the gravity of the situation.
Tatsuki's attacks became wilder and more ferocious with each passing moment, her fists blurring with speed as she unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes. The Bount struggled to keep up with her onslaught, his expression morphing from amusement to concern as he found himself on the defensive.
Meanwhile, Tatsuki's body began to undergo a disturbing transformation. Her muscles bulged with unnatural strength, her veins pulsating with an otherworldly energy. Her eyes blazed with an intense crimson glow, reflecting the depths of her fury as she pushed herself beyond the limits of her own endurance.
Orihime gasped in horror as she watched Tatsuki's transformation unfold, her hands trembling with fear. Chad's fists clenched tightly at his sides, his own concern mirroring Orihime's. Kurōdo and Noba exchanged a silent exchange, their expressions grim as they realized the severity of the situation.
The Bount, sensing Tatsuki's growing instability, seized the opportunity to strike. With a swift motion, he directed the golden serpent towards her, but Tatsuki, blinded by her rage, failed to anticipate the serpent's attack. In a swift motion, Fried lunged forward, its golden coils wrapping around Tatsuki's body with unnerving precision. Tatsuki's eyes widened in shock as she felt the serpent's grip tighten around her, its coils constricting with crushing force.
Tatsuki gritted her teeth against the pain, her muscles straining against the serpent's relentless hold. The pressure intensified with each passing moment, the sensation of her bones being compressed sending waves of agony coursing through her body.
Ryō watched with a smug expression as Tatsuki struggled against the serpent's grip, his amusement evident in the curve of his lips.
Ryō: "Fried is my Doll... and It can be a bit temperamental at times... It would be wise of you to not be so stubborn."
Ignoring the Bount's warning, Chad moved with lightning speed, his fist poised to strike at Fried and free Tatsuki from its constricting grasp. But before he could land a blow, Fried's eyes glowed with an ominous light, and the warehouse seemed to come alive with movement.
Cables, cords, and even the numerous cuts on the floor and walls began to writhe and twist, transforming into a multitude of serpentine forms. They slithered and coiled around Chad, ensnaring him in their grasp with surprising speed and agility.
Orihime: "Tatsuki-chan! Sado-kun!"
Orihime sprinted forward, her concern evident in her determined stride, while the mod-souls hurried to keep up with her. The Bount maintained his eerie smile, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. As he extended his hand towards Orihime, a sense of impending danger hung heavy in the air.
But before he could make a move, Tatsuki unleashed a primal roar, the sound reverberating through the warehouse like thunder. The force of her roar seemed to shake the very foundations of the building, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The sudden outburst caught everyone off guard, including the Bount, whose confident demeanor faltered for a fleeting moment.
Ryō: "That loudmouth girl... she's starting to give me a headache..." - the Bount complained. - "Fried!"
Fried: "I'll silence them all..."
Suddenly, from all corners of the warehouse where the Doll's marks of blows were, multiple serpents began to emerge, and soon the group found themselves on the verge of being attacked by what seemed like an ocean of serpents.
Chad could easily dispose of them, but he didn't want to risk unleashing a devastating attack and bringing the warehouse down.
Kurōdo and Noba were too stunned by the scene to act accordingly, and Orihime, despite the situation, prepared herself to try to do something for her friends, but before the serpents could reach the group, they were all frozen by a sudden attack of snow, only to then be shattered by thousands of red threads.
As the serpents froze in place, shattered by the onslaught of red threads, Yato and Rukia stepped into the warehouse, accompanied by Ichigo and the newly embodied Kon. Their arrival was met with a mixture of relief and surprise from the group, who had been overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of serpentine constructs.